Setting Up an Effective Planning and Control Cycle
Hans J. Thamhain · 2014
Planning is the cornerstone to effective project management not just for large organizations as NASA. It is a threshold requirement for most technology-intensive projects. Planning the multifunctional activities and their integration throughout the project lifecycle is one of the most important and challenging responsibilities of the project leader. An integrated approach to project planning is presented in this chapter to provide overall managerial perspective. The chapter further discusses the specific tools and techniques of project management. Project planning provides the basis for up front project feasibility assessment and selection, as well as for project organizing, tracking, and controlling during the execution phase. The directions for implementing a project plan come from five areas that guide and influence the project execution: (1) technical, (2) budget, (3) schedule, (4) procedures, and (5) general management and enterprise operations. Project control relies on management actions, which are the responsibility of the project manager.